Scarred Heart

Epilogue

"May manliligaw na pala Archer! Pwede pa bang mag-apply, pre?" biro ni Kim

I raised my brows at the sight of her holding a bouquet of flowers.
I saw how her eyes widened when she caught me staring at her bravely.
Tss... ang bata-bata pa may boyfriend na.

"Why did you ran away from your boyfriend?" I asked when I saw her running from the boy who probably gave her the flowers yesterday

"I don't have a boyfriend."

She didn't stutter but I can feel her being nervous around me... oh I can make you nervous, huh?

"Really?" I mocked at her to test her reaction

When she denied it once again, I feel a bit of relief.

"You're too young to enter a relationship, Luna." pangangaral ko sa kanya, partly because I don't want to see her in a relationship with just random assholes. Why? I don't know too.

I just feel like, at some point I need to protect her so when I heard that she'll be competing, I volunteered to be her mentor.

"Are you sure Mister Consunji? Your classes can be affected." paninigurado ni Miss Fe

Yeah. My classes can be affected and my grades can decrease. I should be feeling so concern about my grades since it's my nature but right now, all I'm concerned for was Luna.

Miss Fe agreed and so I adjusted my own schedule. I study at night to make up for my missed topics after I teach her. I never taught anyone before because I just don't feel like it... but with Luna, I don't know how the tables were suddenly turned.

Funny how I feel a sting of happiness everytime I catch her staring at me rather than focusing on my discussion.

I remembered, when she cooked for me as a sign of gratitude, I was so happy. I felt like I was a kid being given a lollipop. Cringy but that's exactly like it.

I ate every bit of the steak, even the red onions that I used to be allergic to. I know, I shouldn't have ate it but... I can't make her disappointed, I hate to see her with gloomy eyes.

I was hopitalized but I never regretted even a single thing... I was just so happy that she cooked for me. Her effort made me more inspired to come out of the hospital, to teach her again since the competition is coming near. But to my surprise, she didn't come to school that day... she was nowhere to be found.

"Do you know where Miss Alcantara is?" I asked her friends. I know they know something. It was just written all over their face.

"Uh hehe sorry pero---"

"Naku Adam. Hindi na muna yun papasok... paano ba naman kase, binugbog siya at pinagtulungan nyang mga pathetic mong fans! Hay naku pagsabahin mo yan at nanggigil ako!"

My forehead creased at Alfie's answer. I lost my temper all of a sudden, thinking Luna was abused. Agad kong ipinatawag lahat ng kasangkot sa pagpapahirap sa kanya.

"I know you know why I called all of you, here right?" I sarcastically asked

I can see some of them trembling and some are just biting their nails, waiting for me to speak up.

"Malandi yung Luna na yun Adam!"

Agad na nag-init ang ulo ko sa narinig.

"Call her that one more time and I'll make sure to kick you out of this school right now. Do not fucking try me."

They all begged for me to forgive them and so I asked them to do one thing in exchange of my forgiveness.

Tipid akong ngumiti nang makita ko silang isa-isang humingi ng tawad kay Luna.